March 9, 2015

March 12, 2015

March 13, 2015

Blackbirds Soar in Championship Play

(3/2/2015) The boy’s Varsity Basketball team will play in the Section II
semi-finals tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. at the Glens Falls Civil Center against
their Colonial Council rival Schalmont.

The boy’s Varsity Volleyball team won the Section II championship this past weekend and will advance to the Regional championship to be held at
Maple Hill High School on Saturday, March 7th at 3:30 p.m.

Dr. James Franchini appointed Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations

The Voorheesville Central School District is pleased to
announce the appointment of Dr. James Franchini as the Assistant Superintendent
for Finance and Operations, effective July 1, 2015. This appointment comes after months of
deliberation about the position and occurred at a special meeting of the Board
of Education, Tuesday January 20.

Since
the position opened in late February 2014, the District has filled the position
with two interims. Board president, Tim
Blow, states that after carefully evaluating the needs of the district and
reviewing options, it was determined that there is a critical need for a full
time business official. Dr. Franchini,
expressed interest and presented his credentials to the Board for
consideration. The Board interviewed him
and found his background aligned with their vision and also matched the express
desire of the various bargaining units to review internal candidates for
leadership positions.

Dr. Franchini has
served as middle school principal for more than three years. He recently earned his doctorate in educational leadership. Mr. Blow states:
“the Board is very excited to offer Jim this opportunity, and we look forward
to working with him in his new capacity here in the District.”

Congratulations to our very own Jessica Bradshaw (MS), and Kimberly Osinski (HS) who were both selected as a New York State Master Teachers!

Mrs. Bradshaw, and Mrs. Osinski will join peers, already members of the NYS Master Teacher Program, to form a network of over 500 outstanding educators who demonstrate a deep understanding of their content area, pedagogy, and students’ families and communities as well as a commitment to growth in these areas.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo will be formally announcing their appointments at his joint State of the State and Budget Address – the 2015 New York State of Opportunity Agenda – which will be presented on Wednesday, January 21 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

I wanted to
share with the community at large that my good friend and assistant, Dorothea
Pfleiderer, will be retiring by the end of the calendar year. Dorothea has been
the first voice you hear when you call the superintendent’s office for all of
the years I have been here--and many years before that. She is a uniquely skilled individual who has
been a life saver to this superintendent on more than one occasion. I cannot tell you how often I have said to
her: “ Dorothea, remember that memo…” and before I have finished the question
she has the document in her hand. It is
hard to say good bye to such a trusted and valuable colleague, we will miss her
in countless ways—but mostly we will miss her upbeat, professional approach to
every issue that happens across her desk.
I know that she is eager to enjoy family time with her ever-expanding
brood of grandchildren, and I know that her successor, Jessica Tabakian, who
has been appointed secretary to the superintendent and District Clerk, will be
a wonderful addition to our office. However, I cannot let
Dorothea leave without publicly acknowledging the incredible work she has done
for Voorheesville, and for the wonderful support she has offered to me and my
predecessors. We worked as colleagues,
we part as friends!

(November 19, 2014) This summer, thanks to very generous grants from the Voorheesville Community & School Foundation, the PTA, and the Friends of Music, the combined Drama Clubs of the schools were able to purchase a new wireless HME headset system. This system allows students working in the technical area of the theater to communicate with each other. The light booth can communicate with the sound system, and the backstage crew can communicate with lights and sound as well.

This week has been a momentous one for Voorheesville Elementary School. Ths school received recognition as a Blue Ribbon School by the federal government. This is no small feat. Only a small percentage of schools across the country are invited to apply for the reward. Of that number, fewer actually receive the designation. The applicant pool is inclusive of public, private, parochial, and charter schools. Voorheesville was recognized as a consistently high performing school. I am celebrating, alongside my colleagues at the elementary school, and I am very proud to do so.

Since I have come to Voorheesville, I have been impressed on a regular basis by the spirit that characterizes that learning environment. It sizzles with enthusiasm for learning. It is truly a fun place to be, and I can think of no other place I would rather see a small child educated. However, what makes Voorheesville Elementary School special is so much more than the performance of our children on assessments, or our teachers’ investment in the classrooms, or the principal’s legendary energy. What makes Voorheesville special can more accurately be described as its soul – a soul that was also highly present this week. The community lost a very important member in Cindy Abelseth. She was a presence in the environment for twenty-eight years and is known to so many of our families who accessed Kids’ Club for wrap-around care for their children. While not an employee of the District, Cindy was so visible and was an essential member of the community as a whole. She raised her own children here, and helped raise dozens more because she saw a need and filled it.

I received word of her passing from Dr. Reardon who was on his way to Washington to receive the Blue Ribbon Award. He adjusted his return flight so that he could be back in time for the opening of morning care in Kids’ Club early Wednesday morning.The faculty and staff pitched in to cover for colleagues who needed time for grieving.The entire elementary community, despite suffering a personal and profound loss, put their grieving aside to help little children understand and to make sure the children were cared for by familiar people in their stable environment. The program continues, the family and personal friends of Cindy can attend to their needs in this difficult time.What a legacy and what a tribute to Cindy’s vision that the children came first. I fully understand why Cindy Abelseth wanted to have her life celebrated at this elementary school. I fully understand why her family, despite their personal grief, wants the community to remember her presence in the school. I would say this experience speaks volumes about why this is a Blue Ribbon School, and I think Cindy Abelseth knew that for years!